Lozenges with silver nanoparticles

ABSTRACT

A solid lozenge composition for oral dissolution. The solid lozenge composition includes an inactive carrier medium that is a solid at room temperature, at least one flavoring component, and silver nanoparticles. The concentration of silver nanoparticles is between about 0.1 micrograms per teaspoon and 5 micrograms per teaspoon.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/920,606 filed on Dec. 24, 2013 for Frank Davis, whichis incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

This invention relates to lozenges and more particularly relates tolozenges with silver nanoparticles.

BACKGROUND

Silver has been employed as a germicide and antibiotic for a number ofyears and has been used in the past by civilizations before modernantibiotics were developed. For example, in previous centuries userswould shave silver particles into their drinking water, or submergewhole silver pieces in the drinking water, for the purpose of ingestingthe silver by drinking.

More recently, silver has been implemented in liquid mixtures and havebeen made available for ingestion. Many conventional silver-basedproducts, however, are unstable and the effectiveness of the silver isat least diminished due to precipitation, aggregation, or settling(i.e., silver ‘falls out” of solution). In other words, manyconventional silver products fail to maintain the silver particles insuspension, either because the silver solution is not a true colloid orbecause it is otherwise unstable. When the suspension of the silverparticles fails, the particles fall to the bottom of the solution,thereby reducing the solution's concentration of silver (or at leastdecreasing the uniformity of the concentration, thus making spatialconcentrations relatively inconsistent) and rendering the silver productless effective.

SUMMARY

The subject matter of the present disclosure has been developed inresponse to the present state of the art of throat lozenges.Accordingly, the subject matter of the present disclosure has beendeveloped to provide a solid lozenge composition that overcomes manyshortcomings in the prior art.

Disclosed herein is one embodiment of a solid lozenge composition fororal dissolution. The solid lozenge composition includes an inactivecarrier medium that is a solid at room temperature, at least oneflavoring component, and silver nanoparticles. The concentration ofsilver nanoparticles is between about 0.1 ppm and 25 ppm.

In one implementation, the solid lozenge composition further includes asilver dispersing medium that, independent from the inactive carriermedium, is a liquid at room temperature. In another implementation, thesolubility of the solid lozenge composition in a mouth of a user and thesize of an individual lozenge are such that it takes at least 6 minutesto completely dissolve each individual lozenge. Still further, theinactive carrier medium may make up more than 50 volume percent of thesolid lozenge composition.

In one implementation, the silver nanoparticles are produced viaelectrolysis. In another implementation, the inactive carrier medium isevaporated cane juice. Also, the solid lozenge composition may include aconsistency modifier and in certain implementations the consistencymodifier may be honey. In one implementation, the flavoring component isan essential oil.

In another implementation, the concentration of silver nanoparticles isbetween about 2 ppm and 10 ppm. In yet another implementation, theconcentration of silver nanoparticles is about 4.25 ppm. According toanother implementation, the concentration of silver nanoparticles isabout 20 micrograms per 4.5 gram lozenge.

Also disclosed herein, according to one embodiment, is a method forusing solid lozenges containing silver nanoparticles. The methodincludes providing a solid lozenge composition for oral dissolution. Thesolid lozenge composition comprising an inactive carrier medium that isa solid at room temperature, at least one flavoring component, andsilver nanoparticles, wherein the concentration of silver nanoparticlesis between about 0.1 and 25 ppm. The method further includes placing thesolid lozenge composition in a mouth of a user, and then orallydissolving the solid lozenge composition for a time period of at least 2minutes, during which time period the silver nanoparticles are insubstantially constant and repeated contact with a discomfort source inthe throat of the user. According to one implementation, the time periodis at least 6 minutes.

Further disclosed herein is a method, according to one embodiment, formaking solid lozenges that contain silver nanoparticles. The methodincludes combining an inactive carrier medium with silver nanoparticlesover low heat to produce a liquid mixture, with the concentration ofsilver nanoparticles in the mixture being between about 0.1 and 25 ppm.The method further includes heating the liquid mixture to a firsttemperature, stifling the liquid mixture frequently and heating theliquid mixture to a second temperature, removing the liquid mixture fromheat and continue stifling until the temperature of the liquid mixturefalls to a third temperature, and then adding at least one essentialoils flavoring component and continue stifling until the liquid mixturelooks smooth and congruous. Finally, the method includes dispensing theliquid mixture into lozenge molds and allowing the liquid mixture tocool into a solid.

According to one implementation, the method further includes initiallycombining a consistency modifier with the inactive carrier medium andthe silver nanoparticles to produce the liquid mixture. In anotherimplementation, the second temperature is higher than the firsttemperature and the third temperature is between the first and thesecond temperatures. For example, the first temperature may be 250degrees Fahrenheit, the second temperature may be 295 degreesFahrenheit, and the third temperature may be 280 degrees Fahrenheit.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, orsimilar language does not imply that all of the features and advantagesthat may be realized with the present disclosure should be or are in anysingle embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to thefeatures and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature,advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosedherein. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similarlanguage, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily,refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics ofthe disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that thesubject matter of the present application may be practiced without oneor more of the specific features or advantages of a particularembodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages maybe recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in allembodiments of the disclosure. Further, in some instances, well-knownstructures, materials, or operations are not shown or described indetail to avoid obscuring aspects of the subject matter of the presentdisclosure. These features and advantages of the present disclosure willbecome more fully apparent from the following description and appendedclaims, or may be learned by the practice of the disclosure as set forthhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the subject matter of the presentdisclosure will be readily understood, a more particular description ofthe subject matter will be rendered by reference to specific embodimentsthat are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only typical embodiments of the subject matter of thepresent disclosure and are not therefore to be considered to be limitingof its scope, the subject matter will be described and explained withadditional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1A depicts multiple lozenges in a lozenge container, according toone embodiment;

FIG. 1B depicts a lozenge wrapped in a wrapper, according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 2A is a schematic block diagram of a solid lozenge composition,according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2B is a schematic block diagram of the solid lozenge composition,according to another embodiment;

FIG. 3A depicts a user orally taking a solid lozenge, according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 3B depicts a user orally taking a solid lozenge, according toanother embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method for making a solidlozenge, according to one embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method for using a solidlozenge composition, according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A depicts multiple lozenges 50 in a lozenge container 52,according to one embodiment. Lozenges 50, often referred to ascough-drops, are small tablets that are designed to be dissolved in themouth. As a lozenge dissolves in the mouth of a user, the medicationand/or active ingredient(s) within the lozenge lubricates and soothesthe throat, suppresses coughs, kills bacteria, and/or generally improvesthe health and comfort of the user. Lozenges 50 may contain a variety ofconstituents, which are described below in greater detail.

As depicted in FIG. 1A, lozenges 50 may have a specific shape and may bepackaged together in specific lozenge containers 52. For example,lozenges 50 may have a rectangular shape and may be sized so that anadult user can easily place a lozenge in his mouth. In anotherembodiment, not depicted, the lozenges 50 may be shaped like an oval ora conventional cough-drop. In yet another embodiment, the lozenges 50may be attached to the end of stick in the form of lollipop. In oneembodiment, the lozenges 50 are packaged in containers 53 that holdmultiple individual lozenges 50. The lozenges 50 within the containers53 may be separated by partitions within the container 53 or may havewax paper or other similar material separating the lozenges to preventthem from sticking together. The lozenges 50 may also be coated with apowdered covering, such as evaporated powdered cane juice. In oneembodiment, the covering may have a certain flavor or may have a certaintaste. In another embodiment, the covering may prolong the useful lifeof the lozenges. Additional details regarding lozenges 50, theircomposition, and their method of manufacture are included below withreference to FIGS. 2A-2B, 3A, -3B, and 4.

FIG. 1B depicts a lozenge 50 wrapped in a wrapper 53, according to oneembodiment. According to the depicted embodiment, lozenges 50 may alsobe individually packaged in wrappers 53. The individually wrappedlozenges 50 may be sold together in bags of the same flavor or a singlebag may have different flavors. The flavor may be indicated on the bagor on the individual wrappers 53 themselves.

Conventional lozenges have a specific medicating agent or a certainactive ingredient that performs the soothing, lubricating, healing, orcomforting action. For example, conventional lozenges may include apharmaceutically active agent. The term “pharmaceutically active agent”refers to any agent or compound that is usually used to treat a certaincondition or disease (may or may not be approved by the U.S. Food andDrug Administration, European Medicines Agency, or any successor entitythereof, for the oral treatment of a condition or disease). Examples ofpharmaceutically active agents include, but are not limited to,analgesics, anti-inflammatory agents, antipyretics, antihistamines,antibiotics (e.g., antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal agents),antidepressants, antidiabetic agents, antispasmodics, appetitesuppressants, bronchodilators, cardiovascular treating agents (e.g.,statins), central nervous system treating agents, cough suppressants,decongestants, diuretics, expectorants, gastrointestinal treatingagents, anesthetics, mucolytics, muscle relaxants, osteoporosis treatingagents, stimulants, and sedatives.

While lozenges 50 may be used to treat a variety of conditions anddiseases, one of the most prevalent and widespread uses of lozenges isto soothe and treat a sore throat. Sore throats are generally caused bya bacterial or viral presence in the throat of a user. While there aremany different manufactured agents and compounds that have beenformulated to fight bacteria and viruses, silver has been shown to havegermicidal properties. Silver has been employed as a germicide andantibiotic for a number of years and was used by civilization beforemodern antibiotics were developed. For example, in previous centuriesusers would shave silver particles into their drinking water, orsubmerge whole silver pieces in the drinking water, for the purpose ofingesting the silver by drinking. Accordingly, the present disclosurerelates specifically to implementing silver nanoparticles in throatlozenge compositions. Additional details relating to silvernanoparticles are included below with reference to FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2A is a schematic block diagram of a solid lozenge composition 100,according to one embodiment. According to the depicted embodiment, asolid lozenge composition may include an inactive carrier medium 102, aflavoring component 104, and silver nanoparticles 106, among others.

The inactive carrier medium 102 is generally the most prevalentconstituent in the lozenge 50. The inactive carrier medium 102 generallydoesn't have any healing, soothing, or medicating properties but insteadconstitutes the main ingredient into which the other ingredients aremixed/dispersed. According to one embodiment, the inactive carriermedium 102 may be an evaporated cane juice, such as Organic EvaporatedCane Juice made by Florida Crystals of West Palm Beach, Fla. Theinactive carrier medium 102 may be selected according to its solubilityproperties. Since the carrier medium 102, at least according to oneembodiment, is the main constituent in the lozenge composition 100(e.g., the inactive carrier medium may comprise more than 50 volumepercent of the solid lozenge composition 100), the dissolution rate ofthe lozenge 50 in the mouth of user is largely dependent on thesolubility of the carrier medium 102. According to another embodiment,the carrier medium 102 is selected according to its taste, flavor,color, consistency, nutritional value, etc.

The lozenge composition 100 also includes at least one flavoringcomponent 104. In one embodiment, the carrier medium 102 may have asufficiently strong flavor that a separate, independent flavoringcomponent 104 is not required. However, in most implementations aseparate flavoring component 104 will be included in the lozengecomposition 100. The flavoring component 104 may be a sweetener or anaromatic compound. In one embodiment, the flavoring component 104 is anessential oil, such as peppermint oil.

Examples of sweeteners include, but are not limited to, synthetic ornatural sugars; artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, sodiumsaccharin, aspartame, acesulfame, thaumatin, glycyrrhizin, sucralose,dihydrochalcone, alitame, miraculin, monellin, and stevside; sugaralcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol, glycerol, lactitol, maltitol, andxylitol; sugars extracted from sugar cane and sugar beet (sucrose),dextrose (also called glucose), fructose (also called laevulose), andlactose (also called milk sugar); isomalt, salts thereof, and mixturesthereof.

Examples of flavors and aromatics include, but are not limited to,essential oils including distillations, solvent extractions, or coldexpressions of chopped flowers, leaves, peel or pulped whole fruitcomprising mixtures of alcohols, esters, aldehydes and lactones;essences including either diluted solutions of essential oils, ormixtures of synthetic chemicals blended to match the natural flavor ofthe fruit (e.g., strawberry, raspberry and black currant); artificialand natural flavors of brews and liquors, e.g., cognac, whisky, rum,gin, sherry, port, and wine; tobacco, coffee, tea, cocoa, and mint;fruit juices including expelled juice from washed, scrubbed fruits suchas lemon, orange, and lime; spear mint, pepper mint, wintergreen,cinnamon, cacoe/cocoa, vanilla, liquorice, menthol, eucalyptus, aniseedsnuts (e.g., peanuts, coconuts, hazelnuts, chestnuts, walnuts, colanuts),almonds, raisins; and powder, flour, or vegetable material partsincluding tobacco plant parts, e.g., genus Nicotiana, in amounts notcontributing significantly to the level of nicotine, and ginger.

As described above, lozenges 50 may contain various active ingredientsand/or medications. Although conventional lozenges 50 may have variouspharmaceutical compounds or manufactured chemicals in the form ofantibiotics or antibacterial agents, the present disclosure relates tolozenges that have elemental silver. While various colloidal or ionicsilver solutions may be implemented as the silver nanoparticles 106 inthe present disclosure, it is anticipated that the particular form ofsilver nanoparticles described below will be especially useful in thelozenge composition 100 of the present disclosure.

There may be many reasons why orally administering silver would enhancean individual's health. It is anticipated that silver operates toinhibit the growth of bacteria, viruses, and other unwanted organisms,as well as eradicating such existing bacteria, viruses, and otherorganisms. It is also possible that a solution of silver can have ananti-inflammatory effect, sufficient to reduce symptoms of asthma.Silver in solution might also act in a similar fashion to a homeopathicremedy. These are just a few of the possible reasons why silver insolution, such as colloidal silver, is effective at enhancing health.

Attempts have been made in the prior art to produce silver-basedsolutions, including colloidal silver, some of which have been moresuccessful than others. Many of the presently available silver-basedproducts, however, are unstable and lose the silver to precipitation(i.e., silver ‘falls out” of solution). A true colloid operates tomaintain the colloidal particles in suspension over a period of severalyears, and perhaps indefinitely. However, many of the conventionalsilver products fail to maintain the silver particles in suspension,either because the silver solution is not a true colloid or because itis otherwise unstable. When the suspension of the silver particlesfails, the particles fall to the bottom of the solution, therebyreducing the solution's concentration of silver and rendering it lesseffective. This is especially true when dealing with lozenges. If thesilver nanoparticles are not evenly dispersed throughout the lozenge 50,the bacterial or viral infection source in the throat of a user will notreceive constant and uniform contact with the silver nanoparticles andthe lozenge 50 will thus have a decreased effectiveness in treating theuser's ailment.

Several U.S. patents describe various ways of making a silver-basedsolution. However, these patents fail to teach or suggest a process bywhich stable, colloidal silver may be produced in larger batchquantities and at increased rates of production. Even further, thesereference fail to show how a stable colloidal silver can be implementedin conjunction with an inactive carrier medium 102 and a flavoringcomponent 104 to make solid lozenges 50 that can effectively treatbacteria and viruses found in the throat of a user.

In one embodiment, the stable silver nanoparticles are made by placing asilver electrode in contact with a quantity of high purity water,conveying electrical current through the silver electrode to separateparticles of silver from the silver electrode and then agitating thewater to disperse the silver particles into a more uniform concentrationwithin the water such that a higher quantity of suspended silverparticles can be produced per batch. Thus, according to one embodiment,silver particles produced in this manner (i.e., via electrolysis andagitation) are referred to as ‘silver nanoparticles’ in the presentdisclosure. These particles, according to one embodiment, may be bondedto the water molecules, thus resulting in a substantially stablemixture/suspension of silver nanoparticles. In one embodiment, thesilver nanoparticles are produced directly in the inactive carriermedium (i.e., silver bonded to inactive carrier medium molecules viaelectrolysis, etc). In another embodiment, the silver nanoparticles areproduced in an aqueous solution and then upon combining the solutionwith the inactive carrier medium and subsequent heating/mixing, thewater may boil off, leaving behind a substantially uniformly dispersedsuspension of silver nanoparticles in the inactive carrier medium.

The term ‘silver nanoparticles’ is used because the silver particlesproduced in the above described manner are small enough to providesubstantial surface area, thus increasing the rate and frequency ofsurface reactions with the bacteria/virus, but large enough to prevent aloss of stability caused by particles that are too small. Also, thesilver nanoparticles are essentially colorless while other colloidalsilver preparations (particularly with larger particle sizes) usuallyshow colors. Digital analysis of the silver nanoparticles producedaccording to the above description showed an average particle diameterof 0.0106 micrometers with a range of 0.005 micrometer to 0.0851micrometers. However, size distribution analysis shows that more than95% of the particles were between about 0.005 micrometers and about0.015 micrometers in diameter. At these sizes, the silver nanoparticles106 are well suited to remain in solution as a colloid suspension, thusincreasing the effectiveness of the lozenge 50.

According to one embodiment, the silver nanoparticle 106 used in thelozenge composition 100 is an aqueous solution containing deionizedwater and suspended silver particles. According to one embodiment, theconcentration of the silver particles in the precursor silver solutionmay be between about 5 and 50 parts per million (ppm). The silvernanoparticles may, in precursor form (before combining with the otherconstituents of the lozenge 50) be ASAP Silver Solutions made byAmerican Biotech Labs of Alpine, Utah.

FIG. 2B is a schematic block diagram of the solid lozenge composition100, according to another embodiment. The lozenge composition 100 mayinclude an inactive carrier medium 102, a flavoring component 104,silver nanoparticle 106, a consistency modifier 208, and a dispersingmedium 210. The inactive carrier medium 102, the flavoring component104, and the silver nanoparticle 106 are described above with referenceto FIG. 2A. The consistency modifier 208 and the dispersing medium 210are described below.

The consistency modifier 208 may be any constituent that alters theconsistency, uniformity, viscosity, smoothness, thickness, hardnessrating, brittle nature, or other physical property of the composition100. The consistency modifier 208 may also have flavor, taste, smell,and color characteristics that contribute to the overall function of thelozenge 50. According to one embodiment, the consistency modifier 208 ishoney or nectar from a fruit, such as agave nectar. In suchimplementations, the consistency modifier 208 (e.g., honey) not onlycontributes to the consistency and “smoothness” of the lozenge, but alsocontributes greatly to the overall taste and flavor of the lozenge 50.Thus, in one embodiment the consistency modifier 208 may actually be asecond flavoring component 104 and vice-versa. In other words,distinguishing one constituent as either a flavoring component 104 or asa consistency modifier 208 is not an exclusive identifier and labelingcertain constituents as either a flavoring component 104 or aconsistency modifier 208 should not be construed to limit the scope ofthe present disclosure. Additionally, the consistency modifier 208and/or the flavoring component 104 may affect the overall solubility and‘dispersability’ of the lozenge 50, therefore the consistency modifier208 and the flavoring component 208 may have attributes that arecomparable to the inactive carrier medium 102.

As briefly described above, the silver nanoparticles 106 may be combinedwith the other constituents of the lozenge composition 100 in the formof a solution. The solvent in which the silver particles are suspendedis referred to as the dispersing medium 210. Thus, the dispersing medium210 may also be present in the lozenge composition 100. In oneembodiment, the dispersing medium 210 is water. As described below, incertain implementations the dispersing medium 210 may be boiled offduring the procedure of making the lozenges 50. However, it is possiblethat the dispersing medium 210 may remain in the lozenge composition100, thus contributing to the consistency, taste, solubility, etc. ofthe lozenge 50.

FIG. 3A depicts a user orally taking a solid lozenge 50, according toone embodiment. According to one embodiment, the lozenge 50 of thepresent disclosure may contain evaporated cane juice as the inactivecarrier medium 102 at a volume fraction of greater than 50% of the totalvolume of the lozenge composition 100. The lozenge 50 may also containhoney as the consistency modifier 208 at a volume fraction of about 20%,an aqueous silver solution (5-50 ppm silver) as the silver nanoparticle106/dispersing medium 210 at a volume fraction of about 20%, and a smallvolume of essential oil (e.g., peppermint) as the flavoring component104. As described below with reference to FIG. 4, a bulk batch oflozenge composition 100 may be divided into individual lozenges 50 fororal ingestion.

In one embodiment, an aqueous silver solution, made according to themethod described above where silver nanoparticles are bonded to watermolecules, is implemented as the silver nanoparticle 106/dispersingmedium 210 and contains 30 ppm silver. In one embodiment, the finalconcentration of silver in the final lozenge composition is betweenabout 1 ppm and 25 ppm. In another embodiment, the final concentrationof silver in the final lozenge composition is between about 2 ppm and 10ppm. In yet another embodiment, the final concentration of silver in thefinal lozenge composition is about 4.25 ppm. In other words, 19micrograms per 4.5 gram lozenge.

FIG. 3B depicts a user orally taking a solid lozenge 50, according toanother embodiment. Depending on the overall solubility of the lozenge50 and the size of the individual lozenges 50, it may take anywhere froma few minutes to 10's of minutes for the lozenge to completely dissolvein the mouth of a user. Depending on the source of discomfort within thethroat 60 (i.e., bacterial, viral), the silver nanoparticles 106 mayneed to be in contact with the throat for a certain period of time inorder to effectively treat, kill, eliminate, or neutralize thebacterial/viral infection. In one embodiment, the lozenges 50 may bedesigned to last for at least 6 minutes before completely dissolving,thus providing the user with at least 6 minutes of silver contacting thebacterial or viral source in the throat 60.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method 400 for making asolid lozenge 50, according to one embodiment. The method 400 includescombining 402 an inactive carrier medium 102 with silver nanoparticles106 over low heat to produce a liquid mixture. According to oneembodiment, the concentration of silver nanoparticles in the mixture isbetween about 0.1 micrograms per teaspoon and 5 micrograms per teaspoon.The method 400 further includes heating 404 the liquid mixture to afirst temperature before stirring 406 the liquid mixture frequentlywhile heating the liquid mixture to a second temperature. In oneembodiment, the first temperature is 250 degrees Fahrenheit and thesecond temperature 295 degrees Fahrenheit. Still further, the method 400includes removing 408 the liquid mixture from heat while continuing tostir until the temperature of the liquid mixture falls back down to athird temperature, which may be about 280 degrees Fahrenheit. Anessential oils flavoring component 104, according to one embodiment, isthen added 410 to the liquid mixture and the liquid mixture is stirreduntil it looks smooth and congruous. Finally, the method 400 includesdispensing 412 the liquid mixture into lozenge molds and allowing theliquid mixture to cool into a solid.

During the heating 404 step of the method 400, the dispersing medium 210may be water, which as a boiling point of 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Insuch an embodiment, the dispersing medium 210 may boil off before thetemperature of the liquid mixture continues to rise. In situations wherethe dispersing medium 210 boils off, the final lozenge composition 100will be affected by losing a certain volume of water. A manufacturerwill need to keep this in mind when targeting a final lozengecomposition 100 that has a certain concentration of silver nanoparticles106 (i.e., the active ingredient).

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow chart diagram of one embodiment of a method500 for using solid lozenges containing silver nanoparticles. The method500 includes providing 502 a solid lozenge composition for oraldissolution. The solid lozenge composition includes an inactive carriermedium that is a solid at room temperature, at least one flavoringcomponent, and silver nanoparticles, wherein the concentration of silvernanoparticles is between about 0.1 micrograms per teaspoon and 5micrograms per teaspoon. The method 500 further includes placing 504 thesolid lozenge composition in a mouth of a user and then orallydissolving 506 the solid lozenge composition for a time period of atleast 2 minutes, during which time period the silver nanoparticles arein substantially constant and repeated contact with a discomfort sourcein the throat of the user. According to one implementation, the timeperiod is at least 6 minutes.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, orsimilar language does not imply that all of the features and advantagesthat may be realized with the subject matter of the present disclosureshould be or are in any single embodiment of the subject matter. Rather,language referring to the features and advantages is understood to meanthat a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described inconnection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment ofthe subject matter of the present disclosure. Thus, discussion of thefeatures and advantages, and similar language, throughout thisspecification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, advantages, and/orcharacteristics of the subject matter of the present disclosure may becombined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments and/orimplementations. In the following description, numerous specific detailsare provided to impart a thorough understanding of embodiments of thesubject matter of the present disclosure. One skilled in the relevantart will recognize that the subject matter of the present disclosure maybe practiced without one or more of the specific features, details,components, materials, and/or methods of a particular embodiment orimplementation. In other instances, additional features and advantagesmay be recognized in certain embodiments and/or implementations that maynot be present in all embodiments or implementations. Further, in someinstances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shownor described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the subject matterof the present disclosure. The features and advantages of the subjectmatter of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent fromthe following description and appended claims, or may be learned by thepractice of the subject matter as set forth hereinafter.

Similarly, reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,”“an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter of thepresent disclosure. Appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “inan embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may,but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. Similarly, theuse of the term “implementation” means an implementation having aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith one or more embodiments of the subject matter of the presentdisclosure, however, absent an express correlation to indicateotherwise, an implementation may be associated with one or moreembodiments.

In the above description, certain terms may be used such as “up,”“down,” “upper,” “lower,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “left,” “right,” andthe like. These terms are used, where applicable, to provide someclarity of description when dealing with relative relationships. But,these terms are not intended to imply absolute relationships, positions,and/or orientations. For example, with respect to an object, an “upper”surface can become a “lower” surface simply by turning the object over.Nevertheless, it is still the same object. Further, the terms“including,” “comprising,” “having,” and variations thereof mean“including but not limited to” unless expressly specified otherwise. Anenumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the itemsare mutually exclusive and/or mutually inclusive, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” also refer to “oneor more” unless expressly specified otherwise.

Additionally, instances in this specification where one element is“coupled” to another element can include direct and indirect coupling.Direct coupling can be defined as one element coupled to and in somecontact with another element. Indirect coupling can be defined ascoupling between two elements not in direct contact with each other, buthaving one or more additional elements between the coupled elements.Further, as used herein, securing one element to another element caninclude direct securing and indirect securing. Additionally, as usedherein, “adjacent” does not necessarily denote contact. For example, oneelement can be adjacent another element without being in contact withthat element.

The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure is, therefore,indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription. All changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A solid lozenge composition for oral dissolutioncomprising: an inactive carrier medium that is a solid at roomtemperature; at least one flavoring component; and silver nanoparticles,wherein the concentration of silver nanoparticles in the solid lozengecomposition is between about 0.1 ppm and 25 ppm.
 2. The solid lozengecomposition of claim 1, further comprising a silver dispersing mediumthat, independent from the inactive carrier medium, is a liquid at roomtemperature.
 3. The solid lozenge composition of claim 1, wherein thesolubility of the solid lozenge composition in a mouth of a user and thesize of an individual lozenge are such that it takes at least 6 minutesto completely dissolve each individual lozenge.
 4. The solid lozengecomposition of claim 1, wherein the inactive carrier medium comprisesmore than or equal to 50 volume percent of the solid lozengecomposition.
 5. The solid lozenge composition of claim 1, wherein thesilver nanoparticles are produced via electrolysis.
 6. The solid lozengecomposition of claim 1, wherein the inactive carrier medium isevaporated cane juice.
 7. The solid lozenge composition of claim 1,further comprising a consistency modifier.
 8. The solid lozengecomposition of claim 7, wherein the consistency modifier compriseshoney.
 9. The solid lozenge composition of claim 1, wherein theflavoring component comprises an essential oil.
 10. The solid lozengecomposition of claim 1, wherein the concentration of silvernanoparticles in the solid lozenge composition is between about 2 ppmand 10 ppm.
 11. The solid lozenge composition of claim 1, wherein theconcentration of silver nanoparticles in the solid lozenge compositionis about 4.25 ppm.
 12. The solid lozenge composition of claim 1, whereinthe concentration of silver nanoparticles in an individual lozenge isabout 19 micrograms.
 13. A method for using solid lozenges containingsilver nanoparticles, the method comprising: providing a solid lozengecomposition for oral dissolution, the solid lozenge compositioncomprising an inactive carrier medium that is a solid at roomtemperature, at least one flavoring component, and silver nanoparticles,wherein the concentration of silver nanoparticles is between about 0.1ppm and 25 ppm; placing the solid lozenge composition in a mouth of auser; and after placing the solid lozenge composition in the mouth ofthe user, orally dissolving the solid lozenge composition for a timeperiod of at least 2 minutes, during which time period the silvernanoparticles are in substantially constant and repeated contact with adiscomfort source in the throat of the user.
 14. The method of claim 13,wherein the time period is at least 6 minutes.
 15. A method for makingsolid lozenges containing silver nanoparticles, the method comprising:combining an inactive carrier medium with silver nanoparticles over lowheat to produce a liquid mixture, wherein the concentration of silvernanoparticles in the mixture is between about 0.1 ppm and 25 ppm;heating the liquid mixture to a first temperature; after heating theliquid mixture to the first temperature, stifling the liquid mixturefrequently and heating the liquid mixture to a second temperature; afterheating the liquid mixture to the second temperature, removing theliquid mixture from heat and continue stifling until the temperature ofthe liquid mixture falls to a third temperature; after the temperatureof the liquid mixture falls to the third temperature, adding at leastone essential oils flavoring component and continue stifling until theliquid mixture looks smooth and congruous; and dispensing the liquidmixture into lozenge molds and allowing the liquid mixture to cool intoa solid.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising initiallycombining a consistency modifier with the inactive carrier medium andthe silver nanoparticles to produce the liquid mixture.
 17. The methodof claim 15, wherein the second temperature is higher than the firsttemperature and the third temperature is between the first and thesecond temperatures.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the firsttemperature is 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
 19. The method of claim 18,wherein the second temperature is 295 degrees Fahrenheit.
 20. The methodof claim 19, wherein the third temperatures is 280 degrees Fahrenheit.